Color e-ink has been promised for years. The reMarkable Paper Pro is one of the first devices to actually deliver on it — and in a way that feels genuinely useful rather than just a spec sheet checkbox.
This isn’t a budget device, and it’s not trying to be. At $579 for the base model, the Paper Pro is aimed squarely at people who take notes, annotate documents, and want a writing experience that feels less like tapping glass and more like putting pen to paper. Whether that trade-off is worth it depends a lot on what you actually need from a device like this.
What’s New, What’s the Big Deal?
The short answer: this is reMarkable’s first device with a color display, and it’s a meaningful upgrade — not just a cosmetic one.
Here’s what actually changed compared to the reMarkable 2:
- An 11.8″ color e-ink screen — significantly larger than the 10.3″ monochrome panel on the previous model
- A built-in adjustable reading light, which the reMarkable 2 never had
- A faster quad-core processor and double the RAM
- 64GB of storage, up from just 8GB
The writing feel is largely unchanged — which is a good thing, since that’s always been reMarkable’s strongest suit. But the addition of color and a frontlight changes how usable the device is day-to-day, especially if you work with annotated PDFs, color-coded notes, or diagrams.
reMarkable Paper Pro Display (Color E-Ink Explained)
The Paper Pro uses what reMarkable calls Canvas Color technology, which is built on E Ink’s Gallery 3 platform. Without getting too deep into the tech, it works by adding color ink particles to the traditional e-ink stack — giving you color rendering without the backlit glow of an LCD or OLED screen.
The result is colors that look more like a printed page than a glowing monitor. They’re softer and more muted than what you’d see on an iPad, but that’s kind of the point. It’s easier on the eyes for long reading or writing sessions, and there’s no flicker or blue-light fatigue.
Where it helps most:
- Color-coded highlights and annotations actually look different from each other now — no more guessing which color you used
- The 11.8″ screen gives you proper full-page space for dense documents or detailed sketches
- Reading in low light is now actually comfortable, thanks to the frontlight
Where it falls short:
- Colors won’t impress anyone coming from a tablet or phone screen. They’re functional, not vivid.
- The device is large and fairly heavy at 525g — not something you’ll casually toss in a jacket pocket
Writing & Note-Taking Experience
This has always been reMarkable’s core selling point, and the Paper Pro doesn’t mess with what works. The surface texture gives just enough friction to feel like paper — not glass, not plastic. There’s very little lag between pen stroke and ink appearing on screen, which sounds like a minor detail but makes a real difference over long writing sessions.
You get a choice of two styluses:
- The Marker — a solid, well-balanced pen with no extra features. Does exactly what it needs to do.
- The Marker Plus — same as above, but with a physical eraser on the end. Worth the upgrade if you sketch or revise frequently.
Neither requires charging or pairing, which is one less thing to think about. Both attach magnetically to the side of the device.
reMarkable Paper Pro Software & Features
The software is intentionally minimal. There’s no app store, no browser, no notifications. If you’re used to a fully featured Android tablet, this will feel oddly bare at first — but that’s by design. The whole premise of reMarkable is fewer distractions, not more features.
What you do get:
- Handwriting-to-text conversion that works surprisingly well
- Cloud sync across devices via the reMarkable app (subscription required for full features)
- Integration with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive
- A small but practical set of color tools for highlighting, annotating, and organizing notes
One thing worth flagging: some of the more useful features — like unlimited cloud storage and certain export options — sit behind a monthly subscription. It’s not expensive, but it’s an ongoing cost on top of an already premium device price.
Battery Life, Charging & Connectivity
Battery life is good, though the “two weeks” claim needs some context. That figure applies when you’re using the device like a traditional e-reader — screen on, frontlight off or dim, minimal page turns. In real-world use with the backlight on and regular writing sessions, expect something closer to a week, maybe slightly less.
That’s still impressive for a device with a color display and a 5,030 mAh battery. For comparison, a standard iPad needs charging every day or two under heavy use.
Connectivity is straightforward: USB-C for charging and file transfer, plus dual-band Wi-Fi (both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). No Bluetooth, no cellular option.
reMarkable Paper Pro vs. reMarkable 2: Side-by-Side Comparison
Here’s a direct comparison of the two devices:
| Feature | reMarkable Paper Pro | reMarkable 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | From $579 | From $379 |
| Display | 11.8″ color | 10.3″ monochrome |
| Resolution | 2160 x 1620 (229 PPI) | 1872 x 1404 (226 DPI) |
| Colors | Up to 20,000 colors | Black and white only |
| Reading Light | Yes, adjustable | No |
| Processor | 1.8 GHz quad-core | 1.2 GHz dual-core |
| RAM | 2 GB | 1 GB |
| Storage | 64 GB | 8 GB |
| Battery Capacity | 5,030 mAh | 3,000 mAh |
| Battery Life | Up to 2 weeks | Up to 2 weeks |
| Charging | USB-C | USB-C |
| Wi-Fi | 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz only |
| Weight | 525 g (1.16 lbs) | 403.5 g (0.89 lbs) |
| Dimensions | 274.1 x 196.6 x 5.1 mm | 246.0 x 188.0 x 4.7 mm |
Key Differences Between Paper Pro and reMarkable 2
- The Paper Pro adds a color display, a larger screen, and a frontlight, three features the reMarkable 2 never had.
- Under the hood, it’s significantly more powerful: faster processor, more RAM, and 8x the storage.
- Despite a much larger battery, the rated battery life is the same — which suggests the color display and frontlight use considerably more power.
- It’s bigger and heavier, which matters if portability is a priority for you.
- The $200 price difference is substantial — whether it’s justified comes down to how much you’ll actually use color and the frontlight.
Both devices deliver the same core writing experience. If you’re already happy with a reMarkable 2 and don’t need color or a reading light, there’s not a compelling reason to upgrade.
reMarkable Paper Pro vs. Traditional E-Readers
Comparing the Paper Pro to a typical e-reader isn’t entirely apples-to-apples, since they serve somewhat different purposes. But there are a few areas where the differences are worth calling out.
Most e-readers — Kindles, Kobos, and similar devices — are built around reading books. They’re lighter, cheaper, and do that one job really well. The Paper Pro is more of a digital notebook that also happens to read documents. If you’re primarily a book reader, the Paper Pro is likely overkill. But if you regularly work with PDFs, handwritten notes, or annotated materials, it fills a gap that most standard e-readers can’t.
A few direct comparisons:
- Color: The Paper Pro has it. Most e-readers don’t, though that’s slowly changing.
- Screen size: At 11.8″, the Paper Pro is considerably larger than the typical 6″–8″ e-reader. Great for documents, less ideal for one-handed reading.
- Writing: No standard e-reader comes close to the Paper Pro’s stylus experience.
- Versatility: The Paper Pro handles reading, writing, sketching, and annotation in one device. Most e-readers handle only the first.
If you’re not sure which type of device makes more sense for your needs, our guide to the best e-readers for students covers a wider range of options at different price points.
Who Is the reMarkable Paper Pro For?
Honestly, not everyone — and that’s not a criticism. It’s a focused device for a specific type of user.
It makes the most sense if you:
- Regularly annotate PDFs, research papers, or long documents
- Take handwritten notes and want them to feel like actual paper
- Color-code your notes or use highlights in a way that actually needs to be distinguishable
- Want a distraction-free writing environment — no apps, no notifications, no temptation to check social media
- Work in fields like law, medicine, design, or academia where working with documents is a daily task
It’s probably not the right fit if you mainly read novels, want an entertainment device, or are looking for something on a tight budget. For that last group, there are solid options worth considering — our budget-friendly e-reader roundup is a good starting point.
Final Verdict: Is reMarkable Paper Pro Worth It?
At $579 — and more if you add accessories or a subscription — the reMarkable Paper Pro is a significant investment. It’s not a device you buy casually.
What you’re paying for is a very specific experience: a large, distraction-free writing surface that feels like paper, now with color and a reading light. If that matches how you work, it’s genuinely one of the best tools available for it. Nothing else quite replicates the Paper Pro’s combination of writing feel, screen size, and focused software.
If it doesn’t match how you work — if you mostly read books, or need app support, or just want something cheaper — then it’s easy to pass on. There’s no shortage of capable e-readers at half the price.
But for the person who spends their days buried in documents, PDFs, and handwritten notes, and has been waiting for a digital notebook that actually behaves like one? The Paper Pro is probably the closest thing to it right now.
Visit the reMarkable Paper Pro page to see current pricing and bundle options.